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Common Dace




  Name Common dace
  Regnum Animal ia
  Phylum Chordata
  Classis Actinopterygii
  Ordo Cypriniformes
  Familia Cyprinidae
  Genus '' Leuciscus ''
  Species '''''L leuciscus'''''
  Binomial ''Leuciscus leuciscus''
  Binomial Authority ( Linnaeus , 1758 )


The Common Dace (''Leuciscus leuciscus'') is a Freshwater or Brackish Fish belonging to the Family Cyprinidae , also known as the '''Dare''' or the '''Dart'''. It is an inhabitant of the rivers and streams of Europe north of the Alps as well as in Asia , but it is most abundant in those of France and Germany , as well as having spread to Ireland where it is used as a bait fish. It will grow to a maximum length of 15¾ Inch es (40 Centimeters ), a maximum weight of 2.2 Lb (1 Kg ), and may live for up to 16 years.

The Common Dace natively lives in a Temperate climate and prefers water with a 6.0 to 8.0 PH and an ideal temperature range of 39 to 72 °F (4 to 22 °C ). It prefers clear Stream s flowing over a Gravel ly bottom, and deep, still water, keeping close to the bottom in Winter but disporting itself near the surface, in the sunshine of Summer . It is preyed upon by the larger Predaceous fishes of fresh waters, and owing to its silvery appearance is a favorite bait in Pikefishing . Its flesh is wholesome and is sometimes caught for food, but is not held in much estimation. While typically a freshwater fish, the Dace enters brackish waters in the eastern Baltic Sea .

The Dace is a lively, active fish, of gregarious habits, and exceedingly prolific, depositing its pale yellow eggs in the Spring at the Root s of Aquatic Plant s or in the gravelly beds of the shallow, flowing streams it frequents. It poses a risk as a potential pest in some areas. In appearance it closely resembles the Roach in both size and shape, with the head and back of a dusky blue color and the sides of a shining silvery aspect, with numerous dark lines running along the course of the scales. The Ventral and Anal Fin s are white, tinged with pale red,; and the Dorsal , Pectoral and Caudal tipped with black. The dace feeds on Worm s, Insect s, Insect-larvae , Snail s, and also rarely on Vegetable matter.

In the United States , the name of Dace is also applied to members of other Genera of the family; the Horned Dace (''Semnotilus atromaculatus'') is a well-known variety.


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